The Only Open Shop Association in Saskatchewan
Founded in 1988, MERIT Saskatchewan is the province’s only association dedicated exclusively to supporting open shop construction.
We’re part of a national MERIT network and a founding member of MERIT Canada, representing the majority of Saskatchewan’s construction workforce—more than 85% of contractors across the province.
What began with six forward-thinking contractors—general, mechanical, and electrical—has grown into a diverse, province-wide community. Our members span every corner of the construction industry, united by a shared commitment to open shop principles and to providing great workplaces for their teams.
In 2020, we launched the Saskatchewan Construction Industry Plan (SCIP)—a fully MERIT-owned benefits program built specifically for Saskatchewan contractors. Today, SCIP is the plan of choice for many of the province’s top construction companies, offering comprehensive, competitive, and reliable coverage designed for the realities of our industry.
MERIT Saskatchewan continues to champion the contractors who build this province—supporting their people, strengthening their businesses, and advancing the open shop construction community.
Our Mission
Supporting the future of the construction companies, their employees, and families.
Our Vision
Think CONSTRUCTION... Think MERIT
What Is Open Shop?
In the construction industry, an open shop is a workplace built on choice. Employees have the freedom to decide how they want to engage in their workplace community, and employers have the flexibility to build teams based on skills, values, and project needs.
Open shop is sometimes misunderstood, but at its heart it’s about respecting individual preferences, supporting fair and open competition, and creating room for every contractor and worker to succeed on their own terms.
This philosophy reflects a commitment to free enterprise, opportunity, and balanced decision-making. MERIT believes that open shop environments contribute to strong teams, successful projects, and a healthier construction industry overall—and we continue to advocate for that choice every day.
Did You Know?
There are more than 13,000 contractors in Saskatchewan employing over 50,000 workers. Approximately 85% of these contractors operate as open shops. That means about 11,000 employers and 43,000 employees are part of Saskatchewan’s open shop construction industry.